Molecular systematics of Goniodidae (Insecta : Phthiraptera)

The higher level phylogenetic relationships within the avian feather lice ( Insecta: Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) are extremely problematic. Here we inves tigate the relationships of I family (Goniodidae), sometimes recognized as distinct within Ischnocera, using parsimony and likelihood analyses of nucl ear and mitochondrial DNA sequences. These data support monophyly for a res tricted definition of traditional Goniodidae, but recognition of this famil y would result in paraphyly of the large heterogeneous family Philopteridae . We show that the New World Chelopistes is not related to other members of Goniodidae, despite similarities in morphology, but rather is the sister t axon to Oxylipeurus. Within Goniodidae, genera are divided into those occur ring on Galliformes (the Goniodes complex) and those occurring on Columbifo rmes (the Coloceras complex). Within the well-sampled Coloceras complex, or Physconelloidinae, several groups are identified. However, traditionally r ecognized genera such as Coloceras and Physconelloides appear to be paraphy letic. Whereas the phylogeny of Goniodidae reflects some aspects of host re lationships, biogeography also influences coevolutionary history.